your questions

[Guest guest]

Camp: Iskcon Vrndavana

 

Dandavats Dear Sri Gauranga das. Jaya Krishna-Balarama!

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

I thank you for your nice letter.

 

Below are some very short answers to your questions. we can also discuss it

personally when I come there later on.

 

In the meantime, Your answers are in the folio and also in Hari Bhakti

Vilasa. Remember the HBV was really meant for conditions in smarta India. So

some of the rules and regs may not so universally practical now.

 

Of course the spirit of the rules must be upheld so as to not offend our

acharyas.

 

> What is the significance of Caturmasya?

 

4 months of the rainy season when sadhus stop traveling (formerly due to

intense rain) that stopped their walking from place to place in India. They

took the opportunity to perform some extra timely austerities to purify

their existance (bhava samshuddhi) as per BG 17 + 18th chapter.

 

> Why do we fast from four different types of food?

 

They ate different foods to both maintain health using fresh ginger and

turmeric root, avoiding certain veggies (no worms in Vegs) and also to

maintain the overall satvic attitude in their personal life.

 

also to keep a mood of renunciation for some paricular period, they adopted

many voluntary vows.

 

> What is the significance of Tilaka?

 

Marks the body as a temple of VIshnu. One who sees the tilaka reminds one of

Vishnu- definition of a vaisnava. Padma Purana says without tilaka bath is

incomplete, considered by Lord as a walking ghost.

 

> What is the significance of Shika?

 

What is the significance of any dress? Military, medical or otherwise? To

distinguish the group from the ordinary man...

 

Aside from the distinctive traditional marks of a vaisnava, to seperate them

from the impersonalist mayavadis, (who had no sikha)...Lord Vishnu pulls you

out of the ocean of Birth and death literally by your sikha...

 

> What is the significance of Arti?

 

A worshipful greeting of the Lord and offering of presentations to Him for

His pleasure.

 

> What is the significance of Purusottama Adhika masa?

 

read about it.

 

> What is the significance of Dhoti?

 

One size fits all...simple living high thinking. also "clothes make the man"

if you wear military uniform it instills a sense of responsibility that goes

with the dress... If you wear Karmi clothes you can walk into any bar and

snuggle up to prostitutes etc. but not in devotee garb, it keeps you chaste

to the vedic principles laid down by GURU-Krsna. It is sattvic, and was

adopted by the Lord himself. Even Bhaktivinoide Thakura wore pants and coat

to work, but in his house, dhoti-kurta after bath..It adds to your satvic

bhava vicara, and tempers your achar,,

 

Why not follow it in your private life as far as possible

 

> What is the proper way to observe Ekadasi?

 

Gradually with devotion and love increase your vows and hearing and

chanting. people give so many days to karmis and sense gratification. One

day out of 15 is offered to the Lord.

 

I hope your enthusiasm in shravanam and kirtanam is flourishing!

 

Yours in the service of Krishna-Balarama,

Vaishnavadaasaanundaasaha,

 

Tridandi Bhikshu, Bhakti Visrambha Madhava